USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Other

Sandia Corporation

University of New Mexico

Maritime Applied Physics Corporation

Thomas W Bein

Gregory C Frye

C Jeffrey Brinker

Daniel H Doughty

Karin Moller

Woodwerth C Bein, Iii

Charles Jeffrey Brinker

William G Thelen

Yu-Tai Lee

Mark S Rice

Kelly D Brown

Matthew Frank

Charles E Engstrom

William L Tucker

An ocean wave energy absorbing kite systemcaptures an ocean wave's kinetic energy as a force on a submerged, reciprocating panelthat drives the panel back and forth in an oscillating motion. The force applied to the panel is transmitted to a power generatorthrough opposed flexible ropes or linesloaded in tension. Potential energy is captured from the wave as a vertical force when a buoyant volume attached to the energy absorbing panel or kite memberrises on a passing ocean wave's peak, and transmits the force through flexible ropes or lines in tension to a power generator. Optionally, the shape of the panel is configurable to limit or restrict absorbed wave energy, thereby preventing damage from larger storm-generated waves.

Ocean wave energy absorbing kite system and method

Some implementations feature a mast stabilizing device that includes a mast comprising a first portion and a second portion, a sensor coupled to the first portion of the mast, and a pivot structure coupled to the mast. The pivot structure is configured to allow the mast to pivot in the mast stabilizing device. The mast is coupled to the pivot structure so as to pivot along a pivot portion of the mast. The mast stabilizing device also includes a mass coupled to the second portion of the mast. The mass is configured to counteract a force applied to the first portion of the mast. The mast stabilizing device further includes a platform coupled to the pivot structure, the platform configured to operate on a body of water. In some implementations, the pivot structure is a gimbal device.

Mast stabilizing device

An assembled pump compressor arrangement of an air-conditioning system having a housing enclosing an impeller with a thrust collar positioned thereon. The arrangement includes a tool for applying torque to the impeller having an outer cylindrical element and a plurality of arcuate sections. The arrangement further includes a releasable clamp for interconnecting the arcuate sections and the outer cylindrical element with the impeller clamped between the outer cylindrical element and the arcuate sections. A torque bar is provided which extends through the outer cylindrical element in a spaced relation to the impeller through which the torque is applied to effect disassembly of the high-speed thrust collar and removal of the impeller from the housing of the air-conditioning system.

Operational maintenance of air-conditioning installations

A centrifugal compressor or pump has a vaneless diffuser within which a radially extending passage is formed between a fixed plate surface and a profile contoured shroud surface establishing a pinch point location of minimum passage area intermediate inlet and outlet ends of the diffuser passage. Convergent and divergent flow portions of the diffuser passage respectively extend to and from the pinch point to establish continuous convergent flow from the inlet end and divergent flow toward the outlet end for exit outflow at a flow angle less than that of a convergent inflow angle from the inlet end imposed along an initial profile segment.

Centrifugal compressor with vaneless diffuser

Coatings and sensors having both steric and chemical selectivity. Controlled porosity provides the steric selectivity, whereas chemically tailored film properties, using controlled composition or modification by coupling agents, chemical species replacement, or chemical species within pores, provide the chemical selectivity. Single or multiple layers may be provided.

Coatings with controlled porosity and chemical properties

An improved tambourine which generates additional sounds that supplement the conventional jingle sound using the same playing motion as the conventional tambourine. It is a feature of the invention that the player can adjust the effort required to generate the additional sounds so that the player can turn the additional sounds 'on or off' simply by adjusting the playing effort. The invention is applicable to cylindrical as well as non-cylindrical tambourine frames. Implementations are also presented that are applicable to modifying existing tambourine frames to enable them to generate additional sounds to supplement the conventional jingle sound.

Multi-sound tambourine

A percussive instrument that simulates the sound of rain by imparting fill material against sound generating rods that are located inside a cylindrical shell. The sound is obtained by rotation of the instrument about the axis of a handle held by one hand of a user while the other hand grasps a crank handle to facilitate rotation.

Rain sound simulator

The invention relates to a selective chemical sensor for selective detection of chemical entities even at the nanogram level. The invention further relates to methods of using the sensor. The sensor comprises:

Molecular sieve sensors for selective detection at the nanogram level

A scavenging system for single screw compressors to remove residual liquid eal from an open combustion chamber prior to controlled liquid seal injection. The removal of residual liquid seal is accomplished by providing at least one gaterotor as a scavenging means. Essentially the gaterotor will act as a scraper having a 1:1 compression ratio.

Mechanical scavenging system for single screw compressors

A single screw mechanism of the positive displacement rotary type such as a ompressor or expander for varying the pressure of a fluid. A stationary housing having a bore symmetry surrounds and is configured to cooperate in a substantially fluid-tight manner with the surface of revolution of the crests of a compound conical mainrotor having a plurality of projecting spiral threads whose root width-thread height define substantially constant cross sectional chamber areas in the grooves between adjacent threads along their length for substantially fluid-tight engagement with the teeth of at least one rotatably mounted cylindrical gaterotor whose axis is symmetrically inclined at a transverse angle that is less than 90 degrees with respect to the fixed spin axis of said mainrotor so as to permit the toothed outer peripheral surface containing labyrinthial seals to extend through a window path opening in said housing thereby exposing one side of each gaterotor tooth face in meshing relation with the mainrotor chamber in the housing to the changed-pressure fluid during rotation. The housing is fitted with ports for the admission and discharge of fluid at opposite ends of said mainrotor, the ports for the passage of the changed-pressure fluid being axially aligned with the mainrotor and located in a discharge ring in close proximity whereat each gaterotor exits from engagement with the mainrotor. A hydrostatic type pressure port is provided in the housing on the suction side of the aforesaid window path.

High pressure single screw compressors

A single screw compressor for varying the pressure of a fluid characterized in that the alignment of the mainrotor and the gaterotor axes is maintained in the presence of distortion due to temperature and pressure gradients. The structural arrangement permits fabrication of a relatively light weight compressor.

Rigid support structure for single screw compressors

A scavenging system for single screw compressors to remove residual liquid eal from an open combustion chamber prior to controlled liquid seal injection. The removal of residual liquid seal is accomplished by providing the casing with a scavenging slot which surrounds a portion of the open combustion chamber thereby allowing centrifugal force to radially remove residual liquid seal.

Centrifugal scavenging system for single screw compressors

In a pump having scroll vane impellers, rapid-opening additional discharge orts are formed by slats in the scroll vanes overlapping slats in the opposing end plates, thereby allowing fluids to be pumped without over-pressurization.

Growing community of inventors

Gambrills, MD, United States of America

Thomas W Bein